[eMeS]

I travelled on the X5 from Madingley Road P&R to Milton Keynes yesterday. I would guess the coach, carrying a 58 plate, was around 30% capacity. I wore my seatbelt.

I'm new to "express luxury coach" travel (complete with power points for laptops), and after a time noticed how badly the suspension dealt with bumps and other minor faults in the road surface. Roundabouts and similar caused quite violent swaying, but the pummelling on my backside from the bumps really started to get to me. The previous day, I'd travelled the same route by car and in comparison the ride was smooth. On the coach, only the best road surfaces gave a smooth ride.

(In the past I have travelled by coach to Italy & back, and in the UK to Carlisle and return - on these journeys with full loads, I can't recall noticing what I've described above.)

What is so difficult about giving coach travellers a smooth ride?

[Ivo]

A very simple tip on the X5, as I learned yesterday (note that I have only ever done end-to-end on it - 200 minutes!), is to sit right at the back - there is more legroom there. Otherwise, the ride is fine to me. I have to say though, if you want a luxury coach - try the X30 from Stansted Airport. Now that is luxurious

I don't suppose you were on the 14:00 ex-Cambridge (about 14:15 at Madingley) were you? I've never know the run to or from Oxford to be so simple!

[starrymarkb]

Originally Posted by eMeS

I travelled on the X5 from Madingley Road P&R to Milton Keynes yesterday. I would guess the coach, carrying a 58 plate, was around 30% capacity. I wore my seatbelt.

I'm new to "express luxury coach" travel (complete with power points for laptops), and after a time noticed how badly the suspension dealt with bumps and other minor faults in the road surface. Roundabouts and similar caused quite violent swaying, but the pummelling on my backside from the bumps really started to get to me. The previous day, I'd travelled the same route by car and in comparison the ride was smooth. On the coach, only the best road surfaces gave a smooth ride.

(In the past I have travelled by coach to Italy & back, and in the UK to Carlisle and return - on these journeys with full loads, I can't recall noticing what I've described above.)

What is so difficult about giving coach travellers a smooth ride?

Coaches on scheduled work are pushed hard. I've had rough rides on National Express's 532 as well (and when you consider that the coach on that route is doing Plymouth to Edinbrugh and vice versa on a Daily Basis - though I would not do it the whole way) they will be shagged. The X5s would be running back and forth between about 4am and midnight. It would take a typical car driver about a week to clock up a coach's daily mileage). It's one reason the Oxford Tube gets new vehicles every 5 or so years

[MCR247]

Originally Posted by starrymarkb

Coaches on scheduled work are pushed hard. I've had rough rides on National Express's 532 as well (and when you consider that the coach on that route is doing Plymouth to Edinbrugh and vice versa on a Daily Basis

Would it not go back to Plymouth and then do a less intense diagram on the day after it returns?

[MCW]

Originally Posted by MCR247

Would it not go back to Plymouth and then do a less intense diagram on the day after it returns?

not Necessarily. When Thurmaston Bus Ltd/ Coachmaster Ltd, Leicester, did National express routes they never used to rotate them if they were down to do the same run the following day chances were the same coach went out, unless it was due for maintenance or service for some reason. and they did Leicester to Penzance or something like that... they did various other routes too

[notadriver]

I think the X5 is more like a bus route and features lower quality roads compared with say national express services which use mainly motorways or the best main roads in the area to reach their destinations in the quickest time possible.

Could it have been a bad vehicle ?

[Ivo]

Originally Posted by notadriver

I think the X5 is more like a bus route and features lower quality roads compared with say national express services which use mainly motorways or the best main roads in the area to reach their destinations in the quickest time possible.

The X5 is no different in that sense. With the exception of the Eaton Socon (sp?) area, it is not like a bus route at all and sticks to the main roads in all areas (apart from in town/city centres obviously).

I honestly don't believe there is anything wrong with the X5, with the obvious exception of legroom. Even the toilets are OK.

[Schnellzug]

Of course, drivers on bus-type services will be keen to crack on a bit to keep to schedule, or endeavour to as much as is feasible, hence going round roundabouts rather quickly and so on, while touring coaches and so on will probably not be under so much pressure to hurry. What do they use on that?

* Ah, Volvo B9R/Plaxton Panther, it seems. I think that's the same as NX use, so it would probably be down to driving, I would expect.

[eMeS]

Originally Posted by Schnellzug

Of course, drivers on bus-type services will be keen to crack on a bit ... hence going round roundabouts rather quickly and so on, ...

I wasn't concerned about the sway going round the many roundabouts as I was seated, and secured by a seat belt - it was the impression that the bumps in the road surface weren't being dealt with in any meaningful way, which got to me. Perhaps if the coach had been fully laden, the effects would have been less noticeable. On arrival in Milton Keynes I did wonder whether the full width raised sections of road surface on the bus route through the centre were really necessary.

I guess it takes a special type of person to use a laptop on such a journey without becoming travel sick.

Thanks for all the comments - I've learnt a lot about coach usage etc.

[Ivo]

Originally Posted by eMeS

I guess it takes a special type of person to use a laptop on such a journey without becoming travel sick.

Why thank you

I was on here whilst travelling on the X5 on Saturday!

[Pyromaniac]

Originally Posted by Ivo

Why thank you

I was on here whilst travelling on the X5 on Saturday!

Working on a coach with no internet access (despite the fact the X30 should) was the prefect place where I typed up lots of my Uni assignments in 1st year. Also met a guy who was a C expert and was interested in a C program I was writing for another Uni assignment. Strange who you meet about .

[notadriver]

Where do you like to sit in the coach ? I'm only used to sitting in the driving seat

[Ivo]

Originally Posted by notadriver

Where do you like to sit in the coach ? I'm only used to sitting in the driving seat

You drive the X5?

I now know to sit at the back. OK, the toilet is to the left, but it opens in such a way that the seats immediately before the back (the last-but-one row or two) are the ones that might "suffer"; the main point however is legroom! Last Saturday I didn't get a cramp on the X5 for the first time, having only ever done end-to-end on it, and it is all thanks to the extra space. Not having to sit sideways also helps

If you ever get a guy about 6'1" with very dark hair, glasses and a Southend ENCTS pass trying to board, it's probably me.

Or are you referring to the X30? If this is the case, the right-hand table facing forwards

[notadriver]

Nooo I don't but I drive coaches ooops sorry about that

[anthony263]

Originally Posted by notadriver

Where do you like to sit in the coach ? I'm only used to sitting in the driving seat

Which is my favourite seat on the coach as I never really get travel sickness unless I am traveling as a passenger although I have had no problems at all on the train or ferry.